(False positives are also common, too.) Plus, per the CDC, diagnosing someone without symptoms via a blood test has not shown to change their sexual behavior or stop the spread of the virus. 'It might tell you you've been exposed at one point at your life, but it won't tell you when that happened or who you got it from-so the usual STD screen doesn't test for herpes in the blood unless people ask for it.' Even then, a positive result will mean you'll be told you've been exposed to herpes, which isn't quite the same thing as being told you have it. 'When you do blood testing for herpes, it's very difficult to interpret,' says NYC-based gynecologist Alyssa Dweck, MD.
This might seem like a massive oversight, but there are a number of good reasons for this. So, here's the thing: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) doesn't recommend routine herpes testing, which means that unless you specifically ask for it, you're not getting tested for it.
